Art, Education, and Sports Unite for Aspen’s Natural Environment: Exploring the Connection Between the Aspen Museum of Art, the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies, and the Aspen Lacrosse Club

The Aspen Museum of Art, The Aspen Center for Environmental Studies, and The Aspen Lacrosse Club may seem like completely different entities, but they are all connected by one important thread: the preservation and celebration of Aspen’s natural environment.

The Aspen Museum of Art, located in the heart of downtown Aspen, is a world-renowned institution that celebrates contemporary art and culture. One of the museum’s main goals is to foster a dialogue between art and nature, and many of its exhibitions and programs revolve around this theme. For example, in the summer of 2019, the museum hosted an exhibition called “Natural Proclivities,” which explored the relationship between humans and the natural world through the lens of contemporary art. The exhibition featured works by artists such as Mark Dion, who creates installations that highlight the beauty and fragility of the natural environment.

The Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES) is another organization that is deeply connected to Aspen’s natural environment. Founded in 1968, ACES is dedicated to educating people about the ecology and environmental issues of the Roaring Fork Valley. The organization offers a variety of programs and initiatives, including guided hikes, birdwatching tours, and classes on sustainable agriculture. ACES also operates four nature preserves in the area, which provide important habitat for local wildlife and serve as a living laboratory for environmental education.

Finally, the Aspen Lacrosse Club may seem like an outlier in this group, but it too is connected to the natural environment. Lacrosse is a sport that has deep roots in Native American culture, and it was traditionally played on open fields that were integral to the surrounding ecosystem. In Aspen, the Lacrosse Club has embraced this connection to nature by promoting environmentally sustainable practices on and off the field. For example, the club encourages players and families to carpool to games and practices, and it has implemented a recycling program at its home field.

Overall, the Aspen Museum of Art, the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies, and the Aspen Lacrosse Club are all united by a common goal: to celebrate and preserve Aspen’s natural environment. Through art, education, and sports, these organizations are working to ensure that future generations can enjoy the beauty and richness of this special place.

Citations:
– Aspen Art Museum. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.aspenartmuseum.org/
– Aspen Center for Environmental Studies. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.aspennature.org/
– Aspen Lacrosse Club. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.aspenlacrosse.org/